Famciclovir is indicated for the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles),[7] treatment of herpes simplex virus 2 (genital herpes),[8] herpes labialis (cold sores) in immunocompetent patients[9] and for the suppression of recurring episodes of herpes simplex virus 2. It is also indicated for treatment of recurrent episodes of herpes simplex in HIV patients.[citation needed]
Several studies in humans and mice provide evidence that early treatment with famciclovir soon after the first infection with herpes can significantly lower the chance of future outbreaks. Use of famciclovir in this manner has been shown to reduce the amount of latent virus in the neural ganglia compared to no treatment or treatment withvalaciclovir.[10][11][12] A review of human subjects treated for five days with famciclovir 250 mg three times daily during their first herpes episode found that only 4.2 percent experienced a recurrence within six months after the first outbreak, a fivefold decrease compared to the 19 percent recurrence in acyclovir-treated patients.[13] Neither drug affected latency if treatment was delayed for several months.[14]
Initially studied as compound BRL 42810, famciclovir grew out of the study of "several potential prodrugs of penciclovir", that were synthesized by M. R. Harnden and R. L. Jarvest from theBeecham Group plc. in the late 1980s. After showing promise on studies with mice, BRL 42810 (famciclovir) was selected for further evaluation and progression to studies in humans.[15]
^Tyring S, Barbarash RA, Nahlik JE, Cunningham A, Marley J, Heng M, et al. (July 1995). "Famciclovir for the treatment of acute herpes zoster: effects on acute disease and postherpetic neuralgia. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Collaborative Famciclovir Herpes Zoster Study Group".Annals of Internal Medicine.123 (2):89–96.doi:10.7326/0003-4819-123-2-199507150-00002.PMID7778840.S2CID35498460.
^Spruance SL, Bodsworth N, Resnick H, Conant M, Oeuvray C, Gao J, et al. (July 2006). "Single-dose, patient-initiated famciclovir: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for episodic treatment of herpes labialis".Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.55 (1):47–53.doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2006.02.031.PMID16781291.
